Vince Mendoza

Who is Vince Mendoza?

Vince Mendoza is a music arranger and composer.

Mendoza was born in Connecticut and studied guitar as a child, influenced by classical music, soul and jazz. He then took up the trumpet, which he continued to play throughout his time at Ohio State University, where he played in the Jazz Ensemble and the Concert Band. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in music composition in 1983. He did his graduate studies in composition at the University of Southern California.

He was signed to Blue Note Records, with whom he released “Start Here” and “Instructions Inside”. His compositions have been featured by Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker and Charlie Haden. Mendoza has frequently provided arrangements for their work, as well as for Randy Brecker and Peter Erskine.

Mendoza's work involves various musical styles. He has produced and arranged for singers as diverse as Robbie Williams, Björk, Elvis Costello, and six Grammy Award winning albums, Travelogue, Both Sides Now with Joni Mitchell, Some Skunk Funk, Brown Street, El Viento and 54. From 2005-2013 he was chief conductor of the Dutch Metropole Orchestra.